Japan Sealed A Record Fourth Asian Cup

Asia’s premier football tournament “AFC Asian Cup” came to a thrilling and nail biting conclusion after a 120 minutes display of skill, power and exuberance by the Socceroos and the Samurai’s at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar. However it was Japan who emerged the winner after substitute Tadanari Lee scored a sensational volley deep into extra-time to secure a record fourth crown for the Samurai Blues.

Australia, appearing just for the second time in the continental show off was the better side this evening, creating lots of chances but failing to get pass the Japanese Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who came up with an excellent saves one after the other, while Australia’s Harry Kewell might be cursing his tough luck for missing host of chances.

Playing with the same squad that hammered Uzbekistan 6-0 in the Semi-Final, the Australians squandered an early chance of taking a lead through Matt McKay who slices his close range effort wide. Moment later the Japs appeal for a penalty was rejected when Keisuki Honda was drag to the ground by Carl Valeri forcing Mark Schwarzer into a low save.

Japan playing with one major change, fielding Jungo Fujimoto for the injured Shinji Kagawa had a limited opportunity in the first half as they find it hard to break the mean Australian defense, who conceded just one goal on their route to their first Final appearance.

Just after the first half, the Socceroos appeal for a goal was waved off by the referee when Luke Wilkshire's dipping ball seemed to cross the line as Tim Cahill tried to bundle the ball in. However Television replays showed that the officials were right.

Japan in the mean time created a beautiful chance through Yuto Nagatomo cross for Shinji Okazaki who failed to get his header on target as the Samurai Blue's opportunity rolled pass the post. Harry Kewell also missed another chance in the 70th minute when he fired his shot straight to Eiji Kawashima.

With 90 minutes ending without a goal, a tense 30 minute final show off began with substitute Robbie Kruse’s bullet header, which was brilliantly save again by the Japanese Goalkeeper. Moments later Keisuke Honda bent a drive wide of the Australian post.

Tadanari Lee who replaced Ryoichi Maeda in the 98th minute for only his second appearance of the tournament drew the first blood of the match in the 109th minute through a Nagatomo cross. The Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker opened his international goal scoring account with a beautiful volley, which gave Japan its fourth triumph after 1992, 2000 and 2004.